(a) Placing a license on inactive status. A person who is licensed by the Board to practice optometry but who is not engaged in the practice of optometry in this state may place the license on inactive status at the time of license renewal as follows. The licensee shall:
  (1) complete and submit before the expiration date a license renewal application provided by the Board;
  (2) state on the renewal application that the license is to be placed on inactive status and that the licensee shall not practice optometry in Texas while the license is inactive; and
  (3) pay the fee for renewal of license as specified in §273.4 of this title (relating to Fees (Not Refundable)). Penalty fees as provided by Section 351.304 of the Act, will apply to those received after December 31 of the applicable renewal period.
(b) Reactivation of an Inactive License. A holder of a license that is on inactive status may return the license to active status by:
  (1) applying for active status on a form prescribed by the Board;
  (2) providing proof of completion certificates from approved continuing education programs as specified in Chapter 275 of this title (relating to Continuing Education Requirements) for the number of hours that would otherwise have been required for the renewal of the license. Approved continuing education earned within the two years prior to the licensee applying for the return to active status may be applied toward the continuing education requirement; and
  (3) paying the license renewal fee specified in §273.4 of this chapter (relating to Fees (Not Refundable)).
(c) Prohibition against practicing optometry in Texas. A holder of a license that is on inactive status shall not practice optometry in this state. The practice of optometry by a holder of a license that is on inactive status constitutes the practice of optometry without a license.

Source Note: The provisions of this §273.7 adopted to be effective September 10, 1993, 18 TexReg 5745; amended to be effective August 2, 1998, 23 TexReg 7563; amended to be effective April 7, 2003, 28 TexReg 2923; amended to be effective December 6, 2005, 30 TexReg 8096; amended to be effective December 24, 2009, 34 TexReg 9211; amended to be effective August 27, 2023, 48 TexReg 4665